If you’ve always wanted to live the life of a fairytale prince or princess, these lovely abandoned castles for sale could be precisely what you’re searching for. Imagine fortress walls with towering towers, marbled columns, lush gardens, and magnificent medieval detailing. Click or scroll on to see the top fixer-upper forts on the market right now, from a decaying custom-built castle in Idaho to a fantasy house in Lower Normandy…
14th-century palace, Lugo, Spain: £199,800 ($241k)
If you have a lot of money, a lot of imagination, and a lot of patience, this spectacular 14th-century palace may be your dream conversion project. The ancient property is located within the El Ancares National Park in Lugo, Spain. The vast, isolated, and opportunity-rich apartment is also an excellent deal for €225,000, or £199,800 ($241k).
14th-century palace, Lugo, Spain: £199,800 ($241k)
But, any prospective new owners should keep in mind that this is not a project for amateur renovators. The impressive mansion covers 46,500 square feet and is gradually being overwhelmed by Mother Nature. Despite the fact that it has been uninhabited for some time, it has a renovated roof and is in generally great shape.
The castle is decrepit on the inside, although there are many benefits. We’re confident that this home, with its spectacular beamed ceilings and stone walls, arched windows, ancient arrowslits, in-laid coat of arms, and historic ironwork, could be transformed into something very remarkable. Maybe a high-end hotel or a few family homes?
The location of the property may be its most valuable asset. It is situated in the middle of the Los Ancares Natural Reserve, surrounded by picturesque mountains, valleys, rivers, woods, and historic villages. The property is situated on a huge site and includes some prehistoric houses. A ski resort is also 45 minutes distant, ideal for winter sports aficionados.
13th-century schloss, Brandenburg, Germany: £707,000 ($858k)
An incredible 13th-century schloss in the German state of Brandenburg is available for sale for just £707,000 ($855k), or €800,000 in local currency, proving that you don’t have to be a millionaire to own a genuinely great piece of real estate. The ancient mansion, which is listed with Vermittlung historischer Immobilien, encompasses about 15,000 square feet and is brimming with outstanding statement touches.
The abandoned noble mansion is not only large, but also beautiful! The castle is ringed by a moat and provides lots of Renaissance romanticism on the outside. There are 39 rooms on the inside, all with big architectural characteristics including huge European fireplaces, elaborate plasterwork, tiled and checkerboard floors, curved ceilings, and massive pillars.
The castle was enlarged during the baroque period with short side wings and a tower, therefore some parts of the house are newer than others. Unfortunately, because the building has been vacant for long years, every room will need to be refurbished. In actuality, there are no sanitary facilities, and the existing electrical system is labeled as “defective” by the listing agency. As a result, extensive work is required to bring this opulent residence up to date.
In terms of land, the German schloss comes with over 30 acres that are ready to be developed. Furthermore, Dresden is only about 40 minutes away, while Berlin is only around two hours away. If you’re looking for an isolated refuge with a lot of promise, this old residence could be for you.
15th-century château, Occitanie, France: £777,000 ($940k)
This 15th-century château is waiting to be saved in the picturesque region of Tarn-et-Garonne, France. The quiet estate is only 45 minutes from Toulouse and has an elevation position with magnificent countryside views. The grandiose home has a rich and historic history, as well as about 11,000 square feet of internal space.
The château was erected between 1401 and 1600 by a member of Louis XI’s court, one of history’s most terrible rulers, and is recognized as a Historique Monument by the Supplemental Inventory of Historical Monuments (ISMH). Yet, the area was originally home to an even earlier edifice, which was finished around the end of the 14th century.
The historic fortress was extensively renovated in the 16th century, and various monarchs and bishops have resided there throughout history. The château is divided into two wings that surround a courtyard, with four antique towers adorning each corner. The castle also has lovely grounds, a moat that surrounds the property, an outstanding bridge, and the remnants of the ancient fortification.
There are lots of striking period elements throughout the home, such as stone stairs, 16th-century ceiling paintings, antique fireplaces, and domed cloister-style areas. There’s also a three-bedroom caretaker’s home where you may stay while restorations are being done, as well as a chapel with 15th-century murals. This lovely estate is available through Prestige Property Group for €880,000, which is £777,000 ($940k).
17th-century chateau, Basse-Normandie, France: £1.7 million ($2.1m)
If you have £1.7 million ($2.1 million) or €1.9 million to spare, this idyllic rural home may be yours. The 17th-century chateau is located in France’s Lower Normandy area, one hour from Mont St-Michel and three hours from Paris. Furthermore, the beaches of D-Day Landing are only a few minutes away.
The estate is for sale with Patrice Besse and has everything an aspiring lord or lady might want. There is also an abandoned chapel, a dovecote, various outbuildings, a caretaker’s cottage, and a tiny home that has already been rebuilt, in addition to the main castle. There are 42 acres of property outside, complete with exquisite gardens and spring-fed decorative ponds.
Under the time of King Henri IV, the château was built using local quarry stone blocks. The old residence has two kitchens, a dining room, an entry hall, a lounge, and more than five bedrooms on the inside. There’s also a spacious attic space with high ceilings that may easily be converted into a bedroom.
Every room has magnificent historical characteristics like fireplaces, French windows, terracotta tiles, parquet flooring, and spectacular coffered ceilings. The castle needs some work to be restored to its former splendour, but the bones of this edifice are incredibly strong.
Mirna Castle, Mirna, Slovenia: £1.7 million ($2.1m)
If you’re seeking for a home with a wow factor that offers solitude as well as breathtaking views, this magnificent property in the Slovenian town of Mirna may be of interest. The edifice, known as Mirna Castle, has a lengthy history and has been designated as a municipal landmark since 1996.
The dilapidated home dates back to 1165 and has been affectionately dubbed “The Sleeping Beauty.” It is for sale through Slovenia Estates for little under €1.9 million, or £1.7 million ($2.1 million). Among Slovenia’s oldest castles, the abandoned structure is believed to be one of the most stunning specimens of medieval architecture in the nation. The property, a local landmark, contains Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements throughout its over 26,000-square-foot edifice.
The site has been renovated multiple times throughout the years, most notably following World War II, when the castle was purposefully burnt down and nearly totally demolished. Fortunately, in 1965, a local professor funded the rehabilitation efforts. The residence is accessed through a bridge that goes into an indoor courtyard—the palace’s oldest component. Mirna Castle was fortified during Turkish invasions, and its owners erected defensive walls and towers that still survive today.
The incredible castle has three levels and its square area is divided between arcade galleries, a granary, many towers, and the main building itself. Because every region must be completely rebuilt, this is not a job for the faint of heart. The castle’s rustic stone walls, dramatic stairs, lovely windows, and soaring ceilings with exposed beams are all pluses. Furthermore, the home’s proximity to the local community and breathtaking views make it an excellent investment.
19th-century hunting estate, Centre-Val de Loire, France: £1.8 million ($2.1m)
If you have €1.9 million (£1.8 million) or more to spare, you might own this exquisite hunting estate in France’s Centre-Val de Loire area. The estate was built in the nineteenth century and includes a majestic castle, a tennis court, a swimming pool, various outbuildings, and a guest house.
The mansion is 7,534 square feet and includes two square towers. It is accessible through a lengthy gravel path framed by woodlands, which adds to its allure. Inside, each room has its original décor and large windows, but some appear to have been partially updated lately. A big hallway with a wooden staircase, a light sitting room with a statement brick fireplace and beamed ceiling, a formal dining room, and a neo-Gothic, wood-paneled office are all available.
There are also two kitchens, a small drawing room, a library, and a cellar, which is ideal for keeping local wines! Four bedrooms are positioned on the first level, including a master suite with triple exposure to the park below and one in the castle’s tower. There are also two bathrooms with fireplaces. The upper level has three huge bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and walk-in closet.
The home also contains 173 acres of private property that is “teeming with game,” according to the description. Furthermore, the guest house is a work of art, and the outbuildings are ready to be turned into residences or company premises. The property is less than two hours from Paris and the surrounding region is surrounded in forests intermingled with rivers, so it gives the best of both worlds. This castle is on the market with Patrice Besse and is expected to sell soon.
12th-century fortress, Piedmont, Italy: £2.6 million ($3.1m)
If you want to live the fairytale dream in Italy’s magnificent Piedmont region, this charming house may just be the ticket. The old castle, which is for sale with Prestige Property Group, dates back to 900 AD and was reputedly finished about 1200.
The ancient home has been altered multiple times throughout the ages, but its regal façade and majestic C-shaped courtyard, created in classic Piedmontese Baroque style, remain mostly intact. The picture-perfect stronghold, located on a high site in the centre of Alessandria, boasts amazing views of the surrounding countryside.
The 12th-century property comes with over nine acres of land and an astonishing 25,564 square feet of interior space, providing lots of bang for your cash. The castle has three floors: a basement, a huge main level, and a vast attic with exposed beams. There are ten bedrooms and several spacious living areas with wonderful historical details. Every chamber is beautifully distinctive, from the domed ceilings to the hand-painted murals.
In addition to several spectacular interior rooms in need of restoration, the unusual stronghold was recently made secure by critical structural repairs to its ancient framework. Some of the difficult and costly work, such as strengthening its external walls and fixing the roof, has already been completed. Outside, the ancient castle has magnificent terraced gardens and lovely parklands fit for the most regal estate.
Castle Von Frandsen, Idaho, USA: £5.8 million ($7m)
This stately refuge, known as Castle Von Frandsen, may appear like it belongs in the Black Forest, but it is really located on a rocky cliff overlooking the beaches of Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, USA. The abandoned property is listed with Coldwell Banker for a cool £5.8 million ($7m) and is in need of urgent repairs. Work began in 2022 but appears to have never been completed.
The medieval-style mansion was constructed using granite mined in British Columbia and hand-chiseled on-site. Within, there are lots of exposed timber beams that were gathered and cut from the surrounding forest. Architecturally, the spectacular self-build features a lot of exposed stone, wood, and glass.
The quirky castle is 8,000 square feet in size and has two bedrooms and three bathrooms, however there’s plenty of opportunity for more sleeping accommodations! The master suite is massive, with false tower walls and arched windows and doors. On the home’s three storeys, you’ll discover multi-level rooms, a kitchen, and even an indoor plunge pool. Of course, many of the accommodations have stunning views of the lake from the outside.
The American castle is located on 10 acres of Frandsen Forest property and is within walking distance to the lake, making it perfect for nature enthusiasts. Of course, there’s a private dock and jetty for case the new owner has to get away quickly. Do you want to help finish this one-of-a-kind masterpiece? So, what are you still waiting for?
Heritage palace, Lisbon, Portugal: £5.8 million ($7m)
This heritage palace exemplifies what a fairytale castle should look like: royal, magnificent, and one-of-a-kind. The historic home, located on 148 acres of land on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal, was built in 1800 and preserves many of its outstanding original characteristics. With 17 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, the castle has about 22,000 square feet of interior space just waiting to be saved.
The abandoned castle, known as Quinta da Torre de Santo António, has become an important local landmark and situated on a picturesque plateau in the countryside, providing for breathtaking panoramic views from practically every room. The castle is a remarkable example of classic neo-Manueline architecture, with its own chapel, multiple covered balconies, a conspicuous tower, stone arcades, and exquisite turrets.
A majestic atrium leads to a large hall with edged neo-Mudéjar tiles and tapestry-covered walls. Bespoke coffered ceilings with painted murals, marble and bronze fireplaces, and polished marble columns are among the features. The top levels are reached through a staircase with bronze balustrades and baroque tile panels from the first half of the 18th century, as well as Manueline mullion windows. Other highlights include golden bronze lamps, stained-glass windows, and gilded embellishments.
The palace is surrounded by gardens and woodlands, and it has stables, carriage buildings, and many servants’ rooms. The famed French gardener, Pedro Maurier, designed the Jardim Velho (Old Garden), which has very ornate hedges, lawns, and beds. This royal palace is for sale with Portugal Property and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices for €6.5 million, or £5.8 million ($7 million).
Pink castle, Umbria, Italy: £6.1 million ($7.4m)
This opulent Umbrian residence dates back to the first half of the nineteenth century. Soon after its completion, it was sold to one of the area’s most influential families, who turned it into a magnificent villa in the architectural style of a neo-Gothic castle. It’s now on the market for roughly €6.9 million, or £6.1 million ($7.4 million).
The pink fort is stretched out across four levels and features aspects of English romanticism, including a basement level that can be accessible from both the ground floor and the garden. The main entry includes an antique front door that has been meticulously conserved and is framed with plaster painting.
While the castle is technically strong, the inside requires a major refurbishment to make it liveable, yet it is still full of beautiful historical elements that would undoubtedly excite any history buff. In addition to the ornate bay windows in the tapestry room, the kitchen has a hand-painted cooker hood with a coat of arms, and the living room has simply stunning coffered ceilings.
There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms, but there is plenty of possibility to expand the accommodation options. There’s also an octagonal terrace at the top of the castle’s tower with medieval battlements and 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. A almost 15-acre park surrounds the castle and is divided by a broad avenue lined with pine trees – ideal for an evening stroll before supper.
50-bedroom castle, Pichincha, Ecuador: £6.6 million ($8m)
This stately castle in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador, seems for all the world like an abandoned billionaire’s estate. It rests on 70 acres of lush grounds filled with mature cypress and eucalyptus trees. It’s the mother of all fixer-upper projects, in need of some upgrading both inside and out, and is presently on the market for roughly £6.6 million ($8m).
From the air, you can see how the large home rests among the grounds, which contain both forested and planted parts. Throughout the estate you’ll see statues of figures from Greek and Roman mythology, kings from all over the world and scenarios that portray the life of Ecuadoreans.
This stately castle in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador, seems to all the world like an abandoned billionaire’s estate. It rests on 70 acres of lush grounds filled with mature cypress and eucalyptus trees. It’s the mother of all fixer-upper projects, in need of some upgrading both inside and out, and is presently on the market for roughly £6.6 million ($8m).
The grounds include a church, two Roman-style pools, various pavilions, and 50 parking places in addition to the main castle. So, what is the cost of this big property? The castle requires extensive renovations, which are expected to cost roughly £1.6 million ($2 million).
20th-century manor house, Basse-Normandie, France: £8.4 million ($10.2m)
If you’d rather be in Lower Normandy, France, and have the means, you may buy this early twentieth-century manor home. The fantasy castle, listed with Patrice Besse for a staggering €9.5m (£8.4m, $10.2m), offers plenty of beauty, room, and breathtaking landscape. Additionally, have a peek at the home’s stunning exterior!
The home comes from the early twentieth century and is situated on a hillside lot along the Côte de Grâce, with panoramic views across the Bay of the Seine River. The old manor home features a grand hall with ceramic floor tiles from a Renaissance bestiary. The chamber also has fluted stone columns, cloister arches of brick and dressed stone, and a beautiful timber stairway.
A lounge with a herringbone parquet floor and marble fireplace, two kitchens, a pantry, and a library with beautiful wainscoting and a beamed ceiling are among the home’s 15,069-square-foot layout. Floor-to-ceiling paneling, ceiling beams, and a carved chimney breast decorated in ceramic tiles representing biblical events can be seen in the formal dining room. There is also a vast cellar that may be converted into an incredible wine room.
Yet it isn’t the only thing this property has to offer. There are also various outbuildings on the estate, including a caretaker’s house, an ancient garage block, and a big structure that was formerly divided into eighteen apartments. There’s also a pool and a pool house that used to be an ancient bunker.
Castle and hamlet, Tuscany, Italy: £13.4 million ($16.1m)
You could buy a whole village in Tuscany, Italy, for €15 million (£13.4 million, $16.1 million). Borgo, the historic settlement and the castle that shields it, date back to the 12th century and were previously possessed by the Pannocchieschi d’Elci, a local aristocratic family. Even more astonishing, Cosimo de Medici, a statesman who established the Medici family as effective rulers of Florence for most of the Italian Renaissance, formerly held the land.
Borgo now consists of an amazing castle and ten country cottages that are only waiting to be refurbished and used, all surrounded by reinforced walls. There’s also a historic chapel, an astronomical observatory, and a vast vineyard where Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grow, so there are lots of ways to make money on this property.
The main castle is lavishly decorated on the inside, with arched windows and entrances, carved timber stairs, tiled floors, attractive window shutters, fireplaces, and built-ins. Of course, extensive work would be required to restore the castle to its former glory.
The 1,687-acre hamlet is divided across forests and arable farmland, the former of which is suitable for horses or cattle and the latter for hunting and mushroom harvesting. According to the description, there is potential for a premium boutique hotel with up to 90 beds. Thus, whether you want to be the mayor of your own town or build a one-of-a-kind private holiday resort, this item is for you.
19th-century estate, Piedmont, Italy: POA
This extraordinary 19th-century villa is a dream house in the making, located on the outskirts of the charming Italian town of Stresa, only a stone’s throw from the waters of Lake Maggiore. The building has been let to deteriorate and boasts a dusty interior and an overgrown lawn that might make exploring difficult. Yet, with so much room, beauty, and landscape, any remodeling work would be well worth it. Let’s take a stroll…
The castle has three stories, a symmetrical floor plan, two circular corner turrets, and a center square tower for extra fairytale charm. The listing agents describe the pad as “one of the most stunning properties on Lake Maggiore,” and it spans over 10.000 square feet, so there’s plenty of space for visiting guests. The inside of the house, like the façade, certainly needs restoration, but there are some eye-catching details that would be worth salvaging…
There’s a lot to enjoy in this property, from the gorgeous wrought iron and white Carrara marble staircase in the entrance hall to the intricate door surrounds, gilded accents, arched windows, vaulted ceilings, and classic fireplaces. There are three big ground-floor living areas, five bedrooms, and two bathrooms, as well as a balcony overlooking Lake Maggiore and a lift connecting each level. The upper floor also has a large area that would make an excellent celebrity bedroom.
Furthermore, the pad is situated on nearly three acres of property and has two private beaches as well as two different structures that are outdated and in need of substantial repairs—holiday houses, anyone? Even better, the castle already has all of the essential remodeling permissions in place. If you’ve fallen in love, Sotheby’s International Realty provides all the details you need—including the price!
